California Biographies
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176
GEORGE KIRKHAM HOSTETTER. Since a boy of but five years, Mr. Hostetter has been
without father or mother, and while he has succeeded it is the result of his own well-directed ef-
forts. His father, Francis Hostetter, was a native of Kentucky, but finally migrated to Mis-
souri where he followed farming up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1844. He mar-
ried Catherine Lankard, who died two years later.
G. K. Hostetter was born in St. Charles county. Mo., January 14, 1841, and after the death
of his mother he and two sisters made their home with Alden Farnsworth near St. Charles until
1854, when the family crossed the plains to the Pacific coast. The trip was made with ox-teams,
the party following the old Carson route. After a weary journey they arrived in California in
October, 1854, and settled in the beautiful Santa Clara valley where one of the party, O. W.
Farnsworth, had previously lived. On arriving in the valley Mr. Farnsworth settled on a one
hundred and sixty-acre ranch four miles from San Jose and Mr. Hostetter remained with him
until 1864, when he went into the mines of Idaho. This trip proved a failure and after a few
months he went to Oregon, locating in the Grand Ronde valley, where he found employment for
one year. In 1865 a return was made to California and farming was resumed in the Santa
Clara valley. A year later, on December 11, 1866, Mr. Hostetter married Margaret Rea, who
was born in Illinois. She is a daughter of James Rea, who was born in the western part of
Virginia, March 9, 1799, of Irish and Scotch parentage. He made his home in the Vicinity
of his birth until early manhood, when he accompanied his parents to Ohio, locating in Viallia
county, and there he married Hannah Hudsonpillar. The latter, also a native of Virginia, was
born the same year as her husband and with her parents removed to Ohio about the same
years the Reas did, both families settling in Gallia county. James Rea engaged in farming for
some time after their marriage, being located near Gallipolis, Ohio. In 1833 he took his fam-
ily to Hancock county, residing at Fort Findlay until the fall of 1838. when they removed
to the vicinity of Decatur, Macon county, Ill. In 1854 he crossed the plains to California and
located near San Jose, Santa Clara county, where his death occurred, at the age of eighty-three
years.
From 1865 until 1891 Mr. Hostetter was engaged in farming and horticultural pursuits near
Berryessa. While there he improved an orchard of fifty-three acres, meeting with marked
success in his business ventures. In 1891 he disposed of his interests and located in San Jose
where he resided until March, 1899, when he located in Lindsay, Tulare county, having pur-
chased his present ranch in 1893. Upon his locating on his ranch in 1899 he set out an orange
grove of fifteen acres. lie also owns two hundred and sixty-four acres a quarter of a mile
north of Lindsay.
While Mr. Hostetter has resided in Lindsay but a few years he has taken a prominent posi-
tion in the affairs of the town, and aside from his own personal interests is now vice-president
of the Rochdale Company and is a director in the Lindsay Orange Growers' Association. In
both of these concerns he is a valued member, his advice being freely asked on all important
questions. He has made a success of his life work and has overcome obstacles that would have
discouraged many, being determined to win for himself a position of prominence. That he has
accomplished his aims all will admit, but in this battle for a competency he has never neglected
the duties of a citizen, and when called upon to assist he has always been willing to respond,
both with his advice and his means.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hostetter have been born five children, as follows : Frank F., George F.,
Alvin M., Rea H. and Mary A. They have been reared amid the comforts of life and all have
been given the advantages of a good common school education. The family is liked by all and
both Mr. Hostetter and his estimable wife are welcomed into the best homes in the state. In
Santa Clara county where they lived for many years they have scores of friends who sincerely
regretted their departure.